PUBLIC LIVES; Woody Allen's Ex-Best Friend on the Record, Sort Of

HAIR covering her eyes like one of those expensive Upper East Side lap dogs, Jean Doumanian comes rushing into the conference room of her production company. She's nearly a half-hour late, but she's so warm, so effusive, so funny in her style of apologies, who can be annoyed? The traffic, the horrible traffic, she's saying -- C'mere, let her take you by the arm to the window so you can see the horrible traffic -- then, Y'know, we've met before, I never forget a face, look out there, look.

Also great: The assurance of her publicists, who have sought this interview, that the famously discreet Ms. Doumanian, at one time Woody Allen's best friend and film producer, is willing to talk. Not about the recent lawsuit in which Mr. Allen sued Ms. Doumanian, her boyfriend, Jaqui Safra, and Sweetland Films, their film company, for $12 million, and which ended, this past June, in an undisclosed settlement, of course. Discussion of relations with Mr. Safra, whose Swiss-Lebanese banking family is one of the wealthiest in the world, and of Mr. Allen, will be A-O.K.

The wait in Ms. Doumanian's Midtown office raises more subjects for discussion: Why is there no sign on the door of Jean Doumanian Productions? Why is there a mezuza outside the conference room when Ms. Doumanian, whose parents were immigrant restaurant owners in Chicago, was raised Greek Orthodox? What's with the posters of gun-totin' cowgirls? Is there some subtext? Who's paying the rent?

Alas, it becomes clear, discussion of certain parties and subjects will remain off limits.

Her friendship with Mr. Allen?

''That's my past,'' Ms. Doumanian says, settling into a plump, green leather armchair as a photographer begins the long arduous journey to find the face behind the bangs. ''It's an emotional thing but it's my past.''

Losing one's best friend of 30 years has to have an impact on one's head.

''My head is great,'' Ms. Doumanian says. ''I've got a big hit on Broadway, with 'Frankie and Johnny.' Starting October 20th, 'Amour' opens. I'm having fun. I just finished a movie with David Green, 'All The Real Girls.' ''

Time out for clarification: Ms. Doumanian is one of six producers of the Broadway revival of ''Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.'' She will be one of three producers of the musical ''Amour.'' She will, however, be the solo producer of ''All The Real Girls,'' and over the years she produced, on her own, the well-received movies ''The Spanish Prisoner'' and ''The Ox.'' Ms. Doumanian is happy to talk producing chores; going with James Lapine, the director of ''Amour,'' to see three-dimensional posters for the show. ''Very cutting edge,'' she says.

If you want to know about Mr. Safra's plane (a Gulfstream III, according to Vanity Fair) or Woody Allen or Ms. Doumanian's age, forget about it. Why did Ms. Doumanian defend Mr. Allen during the scandal that erupted in 1993, when he left Mia Farrow for her adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn?

''Let's just say I'm a loyal friend,'' Ms. Doumanian says, crossing her arms protectively over her body. ''That's just the past. Let's do my future. How wonderful I think my future is going to be. I'm going to do hot Broadway plays and what more can I say? I'm always saying to all my friends and those who have just become acquaintances, the most important thing in life is health.''

Has Ms. Doumanian had problems with her health?

No, she says, but her older brother died a few years ago. She fights tears, then regains her composure for a few firm words to the photographer, who is now, in his on-going struggle for a shot of her eyes, squatting eight inches from her nose. ''Don't put any pictures of me crying in the paper.''

THIS is not to say that Ms. Doumanian cannot be fun. ''You want to see my medical records?'' she asks at one point. ''You going to ask to look at my books?'' Unfortunately these are not real offers.

Eventually, the following nuggets are unearthed: Ms. Doumanian has not spoken to Woody Allen since the lawsuit, nor has she seen his two most recent movies. The mezuzas are on the doorways out of respect to Mr. Safra, her ''life companion,'' whom she met at a party more than 20 years ago. The speculation that she and Mr. Safra have not married because his Orthodox Jewish family disapproves of her because she is not Jewish is not true. ''I love his family and his family loves me.'' The absence of a sign on the door is not a security issue. She pays the rent.

She refuses to elaborate on what it's like for the daughter of an immigrant to go batting around on a private plane or on the homes she shares with Mr. Safra.

''It's a very good life. I can't say, 'Don't be silly, dear.' I know how fortunate I am. Fortunate health-wise. To have a good family. To be involved with a wonderful human being.''